Fuel metering valve assembly including thermal compensation mechanism
A metering valve assembly is provided for metering a fluid. The metering valve assembly includes a position sensor, metering valve, and a thermal compensation mechanism. The metering valve includes a valve housing having a flow passage therethrough, and a valve element movably mounted within the valve housing. The thermal compensation mechanism is coupled between the position sensor and the valve element and configured to adjust the displacement of the position sensor relative to the valve element as a function of fluid temperature.
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The present invention relates generally to an aircraft fuel delivery and control system and, more particularly, to a fuel metering valve assembly including a thermal compensation mechanism configured to compensate for changes in fuel density.
BACKGROUNDFuel delivery and control systems are deployed on aircraft to supply metered amounts of fuel to combustors associated with the aircraft's gas turbine engines. In a generalized fuel delivery and control system, a metering valve is fluidly coupled between a fuel source (e.g., one or more storage tanks) and the engine combustors. The metering valve includes a valve element (e.g., a piston) that is slidably mounted within a valve housing (e.g., a sleeve). The valve element is movable between an open position, a closed position, and various intermediate positions. The position of the valve element is adjusted by a valve actuator, which is, in turn, controlled by an engine controller. During operation of the fuel delivery and control system, the engine controller determines a desired flow rate through the metering valve and commands the valve actuator to adjust the position of the valve element to achieve the desired flow rate.
During flight, the temperature of the fuel conducted by a fuel delivery and control system may vary between, for example, approximately −46° Celsius (−50° Fahrenheit) to approximately 93° Celsius (200° Fahrenheit). As the fuel's temperature increases, the fuel's density decreases. If the fuel delivery and control system does not account for this change in fuel density, the system might not provide a consistent mass flow rate to the engine combustors over the operative temperature range. One known fuel delivery and control system regulates mass flow rate by employing a bypass valve that increases pressure upstream of the fuel metering valve as fuel temperature rises. The bypass valve is positioned downstream of a high pressure pump and is biased toward a closed position by a spring disposed within the bypass valve housing. The spring seats on a stack of bi-metallic discs. When heated by the fuel flowing through the bypass valve, the stack of bi-metallic discs expands and exerts a compressive force on the spring. The spring then exerts a greater bias force on the valve element, and less fuel is redirected back to the inlet of the high pressure pump. As a result, the pressure upstream of the fuel metering valve, and the volumetric flow through the metering valve, is increased. This increase in volumetric flow offsets the corresponding decrease in fuel density thereby maintaining a substantially consistent mass flow rate through the metering valve.
Although fuel delivery and control systems of the type described above are generally effective at regulating mass flow rate over an operative temperature range, such systems are limited in certain respects. For example, to achieve sufficient displacement of the bypass valve spring, an undesirably large number of bi-metallic discs may be needed. Certain fuel delivery and control systems have eliminated the need for such a stack of bi-metallic discs by continually monitoring fuel temperature and utilizing software to compensate for changes in fuel density; however, such systems require additional hardware components (e.g., a resistance temperature device).
It should thus be appreciated that it would be desirable to provide a fuel metering valve assembly that compensates for changes in fuel density over an operative temperature range that is reliable, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive to implement. Other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.
BRIEF SUMMARYA metering valve assembly is provided for metering a fluid, such as fuel. The metering valve assembly includes a position sensor, metering valve, and a thermal compensation mechanism. The metering valve includes a valve housing having a flow passage therethrough, and a valve element movably mounted within the valve housing. The thermal compensation mechanism is coupled between the position sensor and the valve element and configured to adjust the displacement of the position sensor relative to the valve element as a function of fluid temperature.
A fuel delivery and control system is also provided for supplying a metered amount of fuel to an aircraft engine combustor having an engine controller associated therewith. The fuel delivery and control system includes a fuel source and a metering valve fluidly coupled between the fuel source and the aircraft engine combustor. The metering valve includes a valve housing having a flow passage therethrough, and a valve element movably mounted within the valve housing. A position sensor is coupled to the valve element and separated therefrom by a displacement gap. The position sensor is also coupled to the engine controller and configured to relate thereto the sensed position of the valve element. A valve actuator is coupled to the valve element and to the engine controller. The valve actuator is configured to adjust the position of the valve element in accordance with command signals received from the engine controller. A thermal compensation mechanism is coupled between the valve element and the position sensor. The thermal compensation mechanism is configured to increase the width of the displacement gap as the fuel's temperature increases over an operative temperature range.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.
With reference to
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown in
As schematically illustrated in
As indicated above, engine controller 52 sends command signals 50 to valve actuator 48 to adjust the position of valve element 46 to achieve a desired flow rate through fuel metering valve 26 and to engine combustor 22. Engine controller 52 determines the desired flow rate and the corresponding valve element position utilizing valve element position signals 56 and various other signals indicative of the current operational parameters of system 20. For example, engine controller 52 may also receive a flow rate signal 58 from a flow rate sensor 60 positioned downstream of fuel metering valve 26. In addition, engine controller 52 may receive an input control signal 62 from throttle equipment located in the aircraft cockpit (not shown). The manner in which engine controller 52 utilizes these signals to determine the desired flow rate and the corresponding valve element position (or position adjustment) is conventionally known in the field and is thus not discussed further herein.
The fuel conducted by fuel delivery and control system 20 may experience significant changes in density corresponding to changes in fuel temperature. If fuel delivery and control system 20 does not account for these changes in fuel density, system 20 may have difficulty maintaining a consistent mass flow rate to engine combustor 22 over the operative temperature range; e.g., from approximately −46° Celsius (−50° Fahrenheit) to approximately 93° Celsius (2000 Fahrenheit). This may be more fully appreciated by referring to
To compensate for changes in fuel density over the operative temperature range, fuel delivery and control system 20 is equipped with a thermal compensation mechanism 64. As indicated in
In a first group of embodiments, thermal compensation mechanism 64 is configured to alter the displacement of the input of position sensor 54 and valve element 46 by undergoing a thermally-induced shape change. More specifically, thermal compensation mechanism 64 may be configured to expand along one or more axes as mechanism 64 is heated by the fuel flowing through fuel delivery and control system 20. Thermal compensation mechanism 64 may comprise any body or device suitable for changing shape (e.g., expanding) in this manner including, but not limited to, a gas-filled bellows or a shape memory alloy device. This notwithstanding, thermal compensation mechanism 64 preferably comprises a bi-metallic body (e.g., a strip, a disc, etc.) formed from two metals or alloys each having a different co-efficient of thermal expansion. To further illustrate this point, a specific example of a fuel metering valve assembly including such a bi-metallic disc will now be described in conjunction with
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, position sensor 74 assumes the form of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) comprising a LVDT body 90 having an LVDT core 92 (the sensor input) translatably coupled thereto. Thermal compensation mechanism 76 is fixedly coupled to LVDT core 92 via a fastener 94 (e.g., a bolt); however, thermal compensation mechanism 76 may be coupled to the position sensor input utilizing other connective means as well (e.g., soldering, crimping, welding, etc.). Thermal compensation mechanism 76 may also be coupled to piston 78 utilizing any suitable coupling means. As illustrated in
Thermal compensation mechanism 76 maintains a displacement gap between LVDT core 92 and piston 78. The width of this gap is generally determined by the dimension of the thermal compensation mechanism 76 measured along axis of motion 81 (or along an axis substantially parallel to axis of motion 81). As indicated above, this dimension of thermal compensation mechanism 76 changes as mechanism 76 is heated (or cooled) by fuel flowing through metering valve assembly 70. This may be appreciated by comparing
Although not shown in
It should thus be appreciated that there has been provided a fuel metering valve assembly that compensates for changes in fuel density over an operative temperature range. In particular, there has been described a fuel metering valve assembly employing a thermal compensation mechanism that adjusts the displacement of a sensor input relative to the valve element as a function of fuel temperature (e.g., the thermal compensation mechanism may increase the width of a displacement gap separating the sensor input and the valve element as fuel temperature rises). This displacement change may be set to correspond to the density change of the metered fluid over the operative temperature range. In this manner, the thermal compensation element adjusts the valve element position sensed by the position sensor to regulate the mass flow rate through the metering valve over an operative temperature range by increasing the flow port area. Advantageously, the thermal compensation mechanism that need produce only a relatively modest change in sensor displacement over the operative temperature range to be effective. As a result, the thermal compensation mechanism may be implemented in a simple form (e.g., a bi-metallic body, such as a single bi-metallic disc) that is reliable, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive to implement.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A metering valve assembly for metering fuel and for use in conjunction with a valve actuator, a controller operably coupled to the valve actuator, and an aircraft engine combustor, the metering valve assembly comprising:
- a position sensor configured to be operably coupled to the controller;
- a metering valve, comprising: a valve housing having a flow passage therethrough configured to be fluidly coupled to the aircraft engine combustor; and a valve element movably mounted within the valve housing and configured to be moved axially by the valve actuator in accordance with commands received from the controller to provide the aircraft engine combustor with a metered fuel supply; and
- a thermal compensation mechanism coupled between the position sensor and the valve element, the thermal compensation mechanism configured to adjust the displacement of the position sensor relative to the valve element as a function of fluid temperature.
2. A metering valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the thermal compensation mechanism increases the displacement of the position sensor relative to the valve element as fluid density decreases over an operative temperature range.
3. A metering valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the position sensor comprises:
- a sensor body coupled to the valve housing; and
- a sensor input movably coupled to the sensor body and fixedly coupled to the thermal compensation mechanism.
4. A metering valve assembly according to claim 3 wherein the position sensor is a linear variable differential transducer.
5. A metering valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the thermal compensation mechanism maintains a displacement gap between the position sensor and the valve element, the thermal compensation mechanism configured to adjust the width of the displacement gap in relation to changes in fluid temperature.
6. A metering valve assembly according to claim 5 wherein the thermal compensation mechanism is configured to increase the width of the displacement gap in a substantially linear manner as fluid temperature increases over a predetermined temperature range.
7. A metering valve assembly according to claim 6 wherein the predetermined temperature range comprises approximately −46° Celsius to approximately 93° Celsius.
8. A metering valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the metering valve includes an exponential port.
9. A metering valve assembly according to claim 3 wherein the valve housing comprises a sleeve, and wherein the valve element comprises a piston slidably mounted with the sleeve.
10. A metering valve assembly according to claim 9 wherein the piston is configured to translate along an axis of motion, and wherein the thermal compensation mechanism is configured to adjust the displacement of the sensor input relative to the piston along the axis of motion.
11. A metering valve assembly according to claim 10 wherein the thermal compensation mechanism is configured to expand along the axis of motion as fluid temperature increases.
12. A metering valve assembly according to claim 9 wherein the thermal compensation mechanism is fixedly attached to the sensor input.
13. A metering valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the thermal compensation mechanism comprises a bi-metallic body.
14. A metering valve assembly according to claim 13 wherein the bi-metallic body comprises a disc.
15. A metering valve assembly for metering a fluid, comprising:
- a metering valve, comprising: a valve sleeve having a flow passage therethrough; and a valve piston mounted within the valve sleeve and configured to translate therein to control fluid flow through the flow passage, the valve piston configured to move in a first direction from a closed position to an open position;
- a position sensor, comprising: a sensor body coupled to the valve sleeve; and a sensor input movably coupled to the sensor body; and
- a thermal compensation mechanism coupled between the sensor input and the valve piston, the thermal compensation mechanism configured to be heated by the fluid and, when so heated, to move the sensor input away from the metering valve piston in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction, and an actuator responsive to sensor input moving the valve piston in an axial direction.
16. A metering valve assembly according to claim 15 wherein the thermal compensation mechanism comprises a bi-metallic disc.
17. A metering valve assembly according to claim 16 wherein the bi-metallic disc is at least partially concave and increases its concavity as fuel temperature rises.
18. A fuel delivery and control system for supplying a metered amount of fuel to an aircraft engine combustor having an engine controller associated therewith, the fuel delivery and control system comprising:
- a fuel source;
- a metering valve fluidly coupled between the fuel source and the aircraft engine combustor, the metering valve comprising: a valve housing having a flow passage therethrough; and a valve element movably mounted within the valve housing;
- a position sensor coupled to the valve element and separated therefrom by a displacement gap, the position sensor further coupled to the engine controller and configured to relate thereto the sensed position of the valve element;
- a valve actuator coupled to the valve element and to the engine controller, the valve actuator configured to axially adjust the position of the valve element in accordance with command signals received from the engine controller; and
- a thermal compensation mechanism coupled between the valve element and the position sensor, the thermal compensation mechanism configured to increase the width of the displacement gap as the fuel's temperature increases over an operative temperature range.
19. A fuel delivery and control system according to claim 18 wherein the thermal compensation mechanism is configured to expand, as measured along a first axis, as the fuel's temperature increases.
20. A fuel delivery and control system according to claim 19 wherein the valve element is configured to translate within the valve housing along a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel with the first axis.
Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 24, 2007
Date of Patent: Aug 31, 2010
Patent Publication Number: 20090301575
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, NJ)
Inventor: Eric M. Arnett (Granger, IN)
Primary Examiner: Stephen Hepperle
Attorney: Ingrassia Fisher & Lorenz, P.C.
Application Number: 11/923,343
International Classification: F16K 31/64 (20060101);